Mark Duncan/Associated PressA winner last weekend at Progressive Field, Seattle lefty Erik Bedard didn't have much luck against the Indians on Saturday. Perhaps it was because the Tribe have now faced seven consecutive left-handed starting pitchers.

Come Monday they will have faced nine straight left-handed starters. It could be a franchise record.

They faced their seventh straight lefty in Saturday's 10-3 victory over Seattle. The Indians dispatched Erik Bedard in three innings. According to STATS research, they haven't faced seven straight lefties since Sept. 3-10, 1952.

As for facing nine straight, STATS went back to 1919 and couldn't find anything close to it in Indians history.

"I don't mind facing this many lefties," said third baseman Jhonny Peralta, a right-handed hitter. "I see the ball good against them. But [Shin-Soo] Choo was telling me enough. He's seen too many lefties."

Choo, like the Indians' other left-handed hitters, has overdosed on southpaws.

Charles Krupa/Associated PressWith deep pocketbooks, the Boston Red Sox could afford to swallow most of Julio Lugo's $13.5 million contract before dealing the shortstop to St. Louis last week.

RUMOR CENTRAL

He's the one: The Dodgers, Phillies, Boston and Brewers are among several teams interested in Tribe left-hander Cliff Lee. Said one scout, "I imagine it's going to take a lot to get him, but Lee is an upgrade for anybody. Not only is he left-handed, but he's all business out there."It must be nice: Boston has done a good job with its farm system, but it helps to have a fat payroll. The Red Sox, according to the Boston Herald, recently signed shortstop Jose Inglesias, a Cuban defector, for $8 million as an international free agent. Last week they traded failed shortstop Julio Lugo to St. Louis, while paying the $13.5 million left on his contract.Boston was already on the hook for Lugo's salary after designating him for assignment, but they were able to get outfielder Chris Carpenter from the Cardinals.Another Omar? The Indians worked out Inglesias at their baseball school in the Dominican Republic. They compared him to a young Omar Vizquel. He's acrobatic, has speed and can catch the ball. Offensively, he has no power.Inglesias defected with left-hander Noel Arguellez. Scouts rated Arguellez as having much more value. If Inglesias got $8 million, what's he going to get?There is hope: Scouts say there is lots to like at Class AA Akron.They like catcher Carlos Santana, saying the Indians made a good deal with the Dodgers. Casey Blake is helping Los Angeles, while Santana should help the Tribe in the future. Another scout pointed to left-handed hitters Beau Mills and Nick Weglarz. "I saw Mills hit some rockets," he said. "I'm surprised he doesn't have more home runs."-- Paul Hoynes

The Indians are 4-3 in those games. Overall, they're 13-14 when the opposition starts a lefty.

"It's a unique thing," said hitting coach Derek Shelton. "It makes it difficult because of the fact that our left-handers -- Grady Sizemore, Shin-Soo Choo and Travis Hafner -- hit at the top of the order.

"Another thing is that outside of Bedard, who we've faced twice, all these left-handers are different guys."

Said manager Eric Wedge, "It's tough making a lineup out because three of your better hitters are lefties in Sizemore, Choo and Hafner. And we're trying to get Luis Valbuena in the mix as well. You can't just not play him because we're facing a lefty.

"It alters your lineup a little. I've never seen anything quite so dramatic, but it's the streak we're on right now."

What happened: In the ninth inning Saturday, plate umpire Dale Scott waved home Jack Hannahan from first base on Rob Johnson's double into the right-field corner even though there was fan interference.

Jeff Datz, Indians acting manager after Wedge had been ejected earlier in the game, argued that Hannahan should have been placed at third.

"[Scott] told me that in his opinion that Johnson's ball would have gotten into the right-field corner without the interference," said Datz. "That would have allowed Hannahan to score."

Testing, testing:Fausto Carmona will start for Class AAA Columbus Sunday against Pawtucket. It will be Carmona's fifth start at Columbus and his seventh since being optioned to the minors on June 5.

Carmona, who opened the season as the Indians No.2 starter, is 3-2 with a 2.52 ERA in six minor-league starts.

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